“You can’t kick me out, I started this church,” Ladon Smythe yelled.
Village Assemblies Church was in an uproar over the decision to remove their Pastor and founder Ladon Smythe. This small church based in a tiny town near Chattanooga Tennessee felt like it was the right thing to do.
“We have too, you gave us no choice,” Deacon Bill Jessup said.
“No choice,” Ladon responded.
“Yes,” another church member said.
“You stole our money,” the oldest member in the sanctuary yelled. There were a few more shouts and some people pushed closer to Ladon.
It was 1910 and Ladon had been Pastor of the Village Assemblies Church for a decade. Before being a minister, he was an accountant and investor. He lost at least seventy-five percent of his investment in a bad deal. No one from the Northeast would work with him and he owned a few gangsters some money.
Ladon moved south and figured to take on his father’s profession. Village was only supposed to be temporary but once he saw the amount he could skim from the offering, he decided to stick it through. His plan was perfect until Deacon Bill found out.
“I was doing the Lord’s will,” Ladon said.
“Give it up Ladon,” Bill responded. “We know the truth.”
“You know nothing,” Ladon snapped.
Bill planned the event with various members of the church. On that night, the members came into the sanctuary, which doubled as a meeting room. Ladon showed up assuming it was for the normal church business meeting. Once he ended his prayer to start the meeting, Bill immediately accused him of stealing and the argument began.
“I know from the church treasure,” Bill started and looked at his brother, “that we have had a percentage of our money missing every week. At first, we thought it was an error. Then we did some research.”
“Research,” Ladon asked. During that time the members where making their way toward him while he constantly stepped towards the back. “What research?”
“That you use to do financial things up north.”
“What’s that to you?”
“Then you got in trouble and owe some folks money,” Bill said.
“That’s taken care of,” Ladon answered.
“I figured you paid them back,” Bill’s brother said. “Which is confusing? Why keep taking?”
Ladon looked around the room. He felt trapped like some of the witches he used to pronounce as evil. His mind turned to the people from Salem who threatened others with being burned to a stake. “I already told ya, to do God’s will.”
“Don’t use His name for your fiendish ways,” Bill responded. “Leave.”
“I started this church,” Ladon grimaced. “Ya’ll leave.”
“Ladon we’re humble Christian people, but will do what is necessary,” another Deacon said.
“Ya got two choices,” Bill said. “Either leave and we won’t hurt you. Or stay and we throw you out.”
“And there will be harm,” and elderly woman said.
Ladon looked at each member. His breath was shallow, but he made sure to make perfect eye contact with all of them. Finally, he stepped at Bill Jessup.
“You’ll regret this,” Ladon said. “All of you. You will regret this.”
“Go take someone else’s money. We’re tired of being lied too,” Bill responded.
Ladon had a slight grin in the corner of his mouth and pushed past Bill and the church members. He stopped at the door and looked at Bill one last time. He didn’t say a word and left the building.
There was a slight pause and the members looked at one another. They cheered and felt relieved to get Pastor Ladon Smythe out of the church. Bill felt great that he stood up to him. To everyone in church Ladon was a powerful man and a person to be feared. Bill’s wife gave him a hug while some of the members began to lead out in song.
Bill smiled at his wife and kissed her on the cheek. He was there at the church physically but mentally his thoughts were on the church. They had some savings thanks to his brother. Plus, he knew that for all Ladon’s problems, he was good at making people feel good. Bill wasn’t sure if he could do the same or preach like him. He knew that he would have to take over and that could keep him in the small town. Bill loved the area but had a strong desire to live in a larger city. Memphis, Nashville, or even Chattanooga sounded like a place to start something new. The only problem is that his wife had no desire to move from her current surroundings.
*******
Three months after Ladon’s departure a letter came to the church addressed to Bill. Village Assemblies was struggling, and membership was dwindling over that time. Ladon might have been stealing but his dynamite preaching kept many people in the pews. Bill wasn’t as good of a preacher but spoke like a teacher. They still had enough money, but Bill desired for the church to grow. He didn’t want Ladon to get the victory in proof that the church needed him.
Bill’s wife was proud of him and enjoyed every minute of his sermons. The parishioners lied to Bill Jessup that his sermons were good but told the truth by their attendance. Bill’s wife gave him the letter and started cleaning up the office. He didn’t know who would send him a letter at church. Bill hoped it was a mysterious donor giving money to the church.
“Maybe it’s a donation,” Bill said.
“You think.” Bill shrugged and opened the letter.
I know your secret. Meet me at the address below tomorrow at five. Bring the ten thousand I know you and your brother are hiding at church.Ladon Smythe
Bill swallowed hard and stared at his wife. “I assume it’s not money,” she asked.
“What,” Bill said and looked at the letter. “Oh no, it’s not that, I mean, actually it could be. But I have to meet them, alone.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“God,” Bill began, “works in mysterious ways.” She nodded and smiled.
“Yes He does. Go get that blessing.” Bill hugged his wife and kissed her forehead. He had an idea to the secret Ladon referred to in the letter. He assumed that Ladon couldn’t possibly know something that he hid for a long time. No Pastor or Deacon was perfect, but he felt like his life was good in comparison to others.
His relationship has grown with his wife. Over time, he’s learned to love her. Unlike in the beginning where he felt pressured by family and church members to speed up their engagement to please them.
At five the next day, Bill walked into an abandon general store with a sack carrying the ten thousand dollars. Bill had a hard time explaining to his brother why he needed it but convinced him to have faith that God’s will was being done. Bill felt bad about lying but knew once he talked with Ladon then he will return with the cash.
The general store went out of business when the store manager died right after the Civil War. None of his family wanted the business and let the store go to waste. They took what they needed and left the rest. Over time, people had come in and taken what they wanted. Some items were sold, others stolen, and some things where cleaned. The family didn’t care since they left the south to live in Kansas, open a general store, and start a saloon for explorers traveling west.
Bill wearily entered the abandon store. He crept with each step clearing the cobwebs from the door. He noticed the thick layer of dust and crawling bugs on the cabinets and shelves. He had heard of people cleaning the place periodically but at that time, no one had been there in at least a few weeks if not months. A deer’s head hung on the sidewall behind what use to be the cash register. Only two chairs with no dust sat in the middle of the room.
“Ladon,” Bill called. “Ladon are you here?”
“Yes.” Bill could hear from the back. It was dark, but he knew by the rasp who it was.
“What did you want?” “Have a seat, Bill,” Ladon said as he entered the room from the back.
Bill looked at the chair and then Ladon. He stood. “What’s this all about?”
“You betrayed me,” Ladon said.
“You stole from the church.”
Ladon smiled and pointed at the bag in Bill’s hand. “Easy isn’t it,” Ladon said. Bill glanced down at the bag and held it tighter. He didn’t respond. “I did what had to be done. Besides who are you to judge me.”
“I didn’t have to judge, we saw the proof…”
“I know your secret, Bill.”
Bill swallowed hard. “Secret?”
“I see you got my money,” Ladon said. He stared at the sack. Bill’s grip tightened.
“We need this Ladon. Membership is low as it is.”
“You need me don’t you,” Ladon asked. His voice was raspy but sharp like the hiss of a snake.
“You’re not a bad person, Ladon, but sometimes you do bad…”
“Why did you bring it,” Ladon interrupted. He pointed to the bag. “Doing God’s will?” He laughed.
Bill looked at the chairs a little harder. “Give me the money and you can at least have your dignity.”
Bill shook his head and continued his grip on the bag. “You think you know but…”
“You use the services of teenage prostitutes, Bill. I know I’ve talked to some.”
There was a pause. “That was a long time ago.”
“Last year Bill. You cheated on your wife with young girls you freak,” Ladon said and stepped closer to Bill. “Give me my money.” Ladon snatched the bag from Bill and walked away. Bill was furious and looked at the back of his former pastor. “Now I can add this to the sum in the back.”
“No,” Bill said. “I can’t let you have it.”
Ladon stopped, turned around, and walked to Bill. “Did you say no?” Bill nodded. Ladon punched his former friend in the chest and elbowed him in the face. Bill fell to the ground and touched his lips. Blood.
“You can’t stop me,” Ladon growled. He walked behind a dust and cobweb covered cabinet to grab a shovel. Ladon looked at the tool and then at Bill on the ground. “You’re probably one of those guys who won’t stop, aren’t you?”
“What do you mean,” Bill asked. He was woozy from the blow to the head but looked at his hand with the few drops of blood.
“Like those girls you defiled, you can’t stop. I know your type. You will come after me for this,” Ladon said referring to the cash. He walked over to Bill who was on his knees and not paying attention to him. Then the clang of the shovel scraped the counter.
Bill looked up and saw the tool in Ladon’s hand. “What are you doing,” Bill asked.
“Making sure you won’t come after me.” Ladon grasped the shovel and began to hold it up. Bill’s eyes widen and got off the floor.
“Ladon this is crazy.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell your wife about your dirty little secret.” Ladon raised the shovel ready to swing. “Besides I’ll be in Chattanooga. I have a plan.”
Ladon swung and didn’t realize how heavy the end of it was. He missed and almost knocked himself down from the force. Bill dodged the next attack and looked around the room. Ladon got himself together and swung again. He missed Bill but smashed one of the cabinets.
Bill grabbed one of the chairs and held it tight. “You don’t have to do this,” Bill said.
“Yeah, I do.” Ladon swung again and missed. Bill tried to hit Ladon with the chair and missed as well. As soon as Ladon got himself together, Bill flung the chair at Ladon.
The ex-minister took a swing at the flying object and smashed it. The chair broke in a few pieces with one clipping Ladon’s eye.
Ladon dropped the shovel and grabbed his face from the pain. Bill picked the tool up and without thinking swung the modified weapon. He hit Ladon in the back of the head and landed four more hits. Bill stopped, stared at the shovel covered in blood and dropped the weapon. He looked down at Ladon’s head and knew the pink muscle covered in blood was his brain. The Deacon began to shake. He never killed anyone before and couldn’t believe what he had done.
“Excuse me.” Bill heard a voice from behind him. Bill, whose hands was stained with blood was startled and turned around. Two men were coming into the doorway he had entered only ten minutes before. They were dressed like train operators and had soot on their fingers and clothes.
“Yes,” Bill responded.
They stared for a moment at Bill then at Ladon. “I see you did it.”
“Did what?”
“Killed the man you were talking about. You said you wanted us to come over and take away the dead body of some guy you planned on killing.”
Bill stared at Ladon. He didn’t feel guilty anymore. This was a set up and Ladon planned to kill him all along.
“Yes.”
“You got the ten grand?”
Bill looked around and then remembered where Ladon got the shovel. He figured that Ladon dropped the money when he picked up the weapon. Bill also remembered that there was more cash in the back.
“Yes I do,” Bill said. He headed for the spot with the church money and saw the sack he brought.
“You’re still coming with us,” one of the men said. They walked towards Ladon’s body and turned him over. They examined the area while Bill walked over to them.
“Coming,” Bill asked.
“Yeah, you said you’re coming with us to Chattanooga. Something about a new business venture.”
Bill nodded. “I got something in the back. Here’s your money.” Bill handed them the money much to their delight. Then he headed in the back. The one guy mentioned to his friend to get the cutting tools and a sack. He could only assume that they where going to chop the body, carry it in a sack, and use Ladon as fuel in one of the trains. “Clever,” Bill whispered.
Bill saw a large sack of cash, some papers in the back, and a diary. He glanced at the notes and saw something about a financial venture to start a bank. It was all about fulfilling a vision. Lucifer inspired the vision that Ladon wrote about soon after being exiled from the church. He desired a means to get back at Village Assemblies but a new plan came into order. The financial plans were the means of starting a bank to gather as much money as possible, so he could serve the fallen angel. A plan for a new society was in the formation and it was detailed. It contained the ideas for the name of the group, to the colors, the robes, and even a few of the practices. This new group would allow a person to be who they are without being judged. No more hiding. No more being forced to please others.
“Ominous Mephistopheles Society,” Bill said. “Interesting.”
“We’re all set,” one of the railroad workers yelled. Bill didn’t notice that he had been in the back for a long time. The two had the front room cleaned and the body packed away.
“Yeah,” Bill said. “Here I come.”
Bill walked into the general store main room with the large sack. He placed the diary, notes, and other materials in the bag. Bill stopped in front of the men and grabbed a thousand dollars from the bag.
“Just a little something so I’m safe in Chattanooga.” The eyes of both men widen with excitement.
“Sure thing,” one of the men said.
“You all set,” the other guy asked.
“Ready,” Bill responded. There was a tug at his heart. He knew it wasn’t right to leave but figured he could do right by this financial plan and possibly send Village Assemblies some money. At least he hoped.
“We’ll take care of the body like you said.”
“Our train should really be moving,” the other train worker chuckled. Bill knew it Ladon would be used as fuel.
“Sounds good to me.”
All three began to leave when one of them snapped around and looked at Bill. “I should have asked you this before, but are you Ladon Smythe?”
Bill remembered the line about not having to lie to yourself or anyone else. That he could do what he wanted without feeling guilty. Even in the notes, he thought about some of the changes he could make. Some of the practices he would install. Even his own, little secret, wouldn’t have to be so bad.
Bill looked at both men and smiled. “Yes I am. Now let’s go.”
